The New Nip/Tuck
As an award-winning plastic surgeon who has been helping people improve their appearance and boost self-confidence with cosmetic enhancement for the last 13 years, Dr. Shim Ching is always looking for that next-level procedure that's going to be a game changer for his patients. “I always strive for a plastic surgery outcome that looks completely natural,” he says. “... As if a patient were born with the feature we have improved for them, or one that restores how they looked when they were more youthful.” After training at some of the world’s foremost plastic surgery centers in Geneva, New York City, Toronto, Rio de Janeiro and San Francisco, Ching opened his Honolulu practice Asia Pacific Plastic Surgery in 2013 to focus on cosmetic surgery of the face, breasts and body. Today, he practices with the personal philosophy of using the most advanced techniques to achieve the best results with the least amount of recovery.
Over the last several years, Ching has seen a rise in demand for non-invasive options, and he and his team are investing time in new techniques and technologies that cater to patients who want to fight signs of aging, but don't want the downtime and higher cost of surgery. The way that Botox revolutionized the treatment of facial wrinkles with virtually instant results and minor risks, other innovative procedures are debuting that give patients simple solutions for rejuvenation. “Although surgery will likely offer the best surgical result for some time coming for most people, it always carries some downtime, usually in the form of swelling and bruising,” says Ching. “These noninvasive options offer much less recovery time so that patients can return to their work and daily activities sooner.”
One newer enhancement that’s gained a following at Ching’s practice and throughout the country is the Silhouette InstaLift. Nicknamed the “30-minute lunchtime facelift,” InstaLift uses tiny bi-directional cones to lift the skin's deeper layers in the face, neck and brows, creating a younger appearance. Performed with just local anesthetic, InstaLift includes absorbable sutures, which actually pull double duty by stimulating collagen growth and adding life to sagging jowls and cheeks. “This is an ingenious procedure that has been used successfully and safely in Europe, where over 100,000 patients have been treated,” says Ching. While the effects may not be as dramatic as a facelift, brow lift or neck lift, his patients love how InstaLift is super quick, typically done under local anesthetic and has a remarkably shorter recovery time than a surgical lift.
“I really enjoy doing the InstaLift procedures,” he says. “The name comes from the instant lift that patients see afterwards. In the middle of the procedure, I often lift one side and show the patient their immediate improvement in a mirror so they can see the difference between the lifted and non-lifted side.”
Another noninvasive option making waves is CoolSculpting, a process that uses controlled cooling technology to target, freeze and remove unwanted fat cells for a slimming result. Ching’s practice was the first in Hawai‘i to perform CoolSculpting, and their numbers are growing steadily as more people are realizing how it can produce noticeable results with reduced risk. “Recently, the technology has improved to allow us to treat smaller areas of problem fat, such as the neck, armpit area, bra area and knees,” says Ching. While liposuction is still the gold standard for fat reduction, the fact that CoolSculpting involves little to no recovery time—in contrast with surgery, which always tends to include several weeks of healing following the procedure—is a big draw.
As the technology around noninvasive cosmetic options continues to advance, the Asia Pacific Plastic Surgery team is focused on making the latest options more accessible to their patients. Ching spends a good deal of his time evaluating up-and-coming procedures, attending conferences around the globe and even traveling to visit colleagues involved in developing new techniques to stay on top of what's happening in the world of non-surgical rejuvenation.
For anyone looking to rejuvenate their appearance through cosmetic surgery, Ching recommends visiting a board-certified plastic surgeon—particularly, one who offers a wide range of options—to get an expert opinion on what treatment or procedure is best for their specific body and lifestyle.
“Many aesthetic practices deal solely with the noninvasive side of aesthetic medicine. Some surgeons focus only on surgery. By offering both, I can give patients the best treatment for their situation.” From the facial recontouring of InstaLift to safer body contouring options like CoolSculpting, non-invasives are here to stay. Says Ching, “There is always something new on the horizon that will help patients look and feel their best ... and enhance their happiness.”